Josh Duggar was the golden child on 19 Kids and Counting, but the behavior he hid in the shadows is revealed in the new documentary, Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets on Amazon Prime. He portrayed himself as a person only trying to do the right thing, but fell into a mire of mistakes. Since Josh's secrets have caught up to him, he now finds himself paying the price for his actions.
Josh is the eldest son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. He grew up in front of the cameras on 19 Kids and Counting, from his daily interactions with his family to finding love, and starting a family of his own, which were all part of the show. The persona that he cultivated onscreen made him look almost perfect, but it wasn't long before it was proven to be a standard he couldn't live up to. Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets details Josh's tragic and shocking downfall and the person he truly is beneath the surface.
What Happened To Josh Duggar?
In 2015, Josh's history of molestation and sexual abuse allegations finally became public. Jim Bob and Michelle had been well aware of his behavior as far back as 2002, but they chose to remain quiet to keep their reputation untarnished and Josh out of trouble. However, they had no choice but to face the truth of the situation when it was out in the open. It turned out that a few of Josh's sisters were victims of his sexual molestation, and they spoke out about what happened.
Later that year, it was leaked that Josh was involved in a scandal where he cheated on his pregnant wife, Anna Duggar, on the website Ashley Madison, and he went to great lengths to keep it under wraps. Unfortunately, Josh's horrible choices didn't end there, and something much worse was revealed in 2019 when he found himself under federal investigation for child pornography charges. His IP address led investigators to his car sales lot, where they obtained one video of child pornography and a folder containing 65 images of child pornography on his computer. Josh was then arrested and indicted on child pornography charges.
When Will Josh Be Released From Prison?
Upon being arrested and indicted, Josh had a trial to face his crimes. During the trial, the investigator said the content on Josh's computer was some of the worst sexual abuse and child pornography content he's ever had to investigate. After hearing testimonies from people in Josh's life, including long-time friend Bobye Holt who is also featured in Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, the jury reached a guilty verdict on December 9, 2021.
Josh was sentenced to 12.5 years of prison time on May 25, 2022. Josh's release date is now pushed back due to his behavior in prison. While performing a cell check, guards found Josh with an unauthorized cell phone, and now he's facing more prison time for breaking the rules. Initially, Josh's release date was August 12, 2032, but now he's looking at getting out on October 10, 2032.
It's hard to know if Josh will ever have a chance to go home if he continues to break the rules behind bars. The subject of the Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets documentary has already found himself in solitary confinement for his attitude. If he continues down this path, his stay could be extended even longer.